MORE Scots trust the SNP and its leader-elect Nicola Sturgeon to deliver extra powers to Scotland than any other party or politician, despite the Yes campaign losing the independence referendum, a survey has found.

The research by pollsters TNS suggests the First Minister-in-waiting is poised to inherit a strong legacy of trust when she takes charge of the Nationalists next month.

But the survey of almost 1,000 people who were eligible to vote in last month's referendum poll delivered a sombre message for the main UK parties, in whom there is little trust to deliver their pledge of enhanced powers for Holyrood.

However, former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown has earned support as the leader of moves to ensure the UK leaders' promises on devolved powers are kept, the survey found.

The research also showed people are more engaged with politics following the referendum, which saw the biggest turnout at a poll in Britain since the 1951 General Election.

When given a list of prominent politicians, just under one-quarter (24 per cent) of those questioned said they trusted Ms Sturgeon, the party's sole nomination for the leadership, most to deliver more powers. Her rating was double the figure for outgoing leader Alex Salmond. The SNP was the most widely trusted to deliver new powers for Scotland; 37 per cent said they trusted the SNP against 15 per cent for Labour, 8 per cent for the Conservatives and one per cent for the LibDems.

The poll showed a very low level of trust in the three UK party leaders who published the eve-of-referendum vow on more powers for Holyrood. Only six per cent trusted Prime Minister David Cameron most, one per cent Labour leader Ed Miliband most and only a handful had faith in Liberal Democrat Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

At 15 per cent Mr Brown is the Westminster politician people have most faith to deliver more powers. However, more than one-quarter of those surveyed (26 per cent) said they did not trust any of those named. One-quarter said they did not trust any party to do so.

Mr Brown told the Commons yesterday more powers must be delivered north of the Border "free of any new conditions" as he urged Mr Cameron to stick to the pledge. He said not doing so would be "anti-Scottish" and "anti- British", and lead to the SNP getting independence through the back door.

Meanwhile, Lord Smith of Kelvin's commission, which is tasked with brokering a quick deal on the issue, faced calls for a suspension to head off "a very bad botch job" from academics and MPs. The chairman also said his target, despite its tight deadlines, was not "mission impossible".

The TNS poll showed political engagement has been energised amongst the young, with more than half (55 per cent) of the under-35s saying they were more likely to vote.

Of the 993 over-16s questioned, 37 per cent said they were more likely to cast their ballots in the future. Among the under-35s, 38 per cent said they were much more likely to do so.

Just under one-third (32 per cent) said they were more likely to get involved in public debates about local or national issues in the future as a result of the debate and public discussion about the referendum, rising to 40 per cent among those aged 16 to 34.

Asked how they had been engaged during the campaign, 62 per cent said they had taken part in discussions with friends and family, 60 per cent had watched TV debates, 11 per cent had contributed to online discussions, nine per cent had attended a public meeting and five per cent had worked for one of the campaigns.

Tom Costley, head of TNS Scotland, said: "This is our first indication of the referendum effect - whether the remarkable turnout in that vote, and the high level of public engagement in the campaign, will carry on into future political campaigns and elections.

"The indication from the poll is many people, and young people in particular, are energised to continue to take a more active part in political life.

"But the poll also shows all of the main political parties, especially the Unionist ones, have a lot of work to do to convince voters in Scotland the promise of further devolution will be fulfilled."

MSP Derek Mackay, SNP Business Convener, said: "This poll is more significant evidence of the positive role the referendum has played in re-energising democracy in Scotland, with people more likely to vote and get involved in politics in future."

Professor James Mitchell, of Edinburgh University, said: "Politics in Westminster may have reverted to business as usual and the focus has shifted away from Scotland, but the Scottish public remain engaged, awaiting promises to be kept but expecting little.

"This combination of high levels of engagement and healthy scepticism should make next year's General Election in Scotland interesting and less predictable than usual. It confirms what some predicted — the Scottish Question is alive, even if some would prefer it to disappear."

Professor John Curtice, of Strathclyde University, said with the Scottish electorate the SNP tended to win on trust questions, and it was no surprise people would rate incoming Ms Sturgeon higher than outgoing Mr Salmond.

On voter engagement, he said it was clear the referendum had helped make politics "the talk of the steamie" once more and the figures pointed to a General Election turnout of more than 70 per cent for the first time in a generation.